With summer only part way through, your electric bill has probably skyrocketed. Here are some simple ways to conserve energy. A big investment of time and money not necessary!
10 Quick Fixes to Cut Your Energy Bill:
1. Replace your air filters on a monthly basis. The AC will work harder and run longer, using more energy if filters are dirty.
2. No need to cool an empty house. Turn the thermostat up when you leave and keep doors closed to rooms you aren’t occupying.
3. Use fans around your home – they make the room feel cooler.
4. Use heat-generating appliances at night such as clothes dryers, dishwashers and ovens when outside temperatures are cooler. Using them during the day will force the AC to work harder to keep the house at a comfortable temperature.
5. Make meals in a crock pot. It uses less energy and won’t heat up your house like an oven and stovetop.
6. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot water.
7. Air-dry clothing. If you’re skeptical about hanging your clothes outside to dry due to allergens, perhaps you could hang them indoors on hangers if you can find the room.
8. Unplug your electronics such as phone chargers and camera battery chargers. An easy way of doing this is by having them plugged into a power strip so you can just flip the switch.
9. Seal up any cracks around windows and doors with caulk or weather-stripping. Sealing leaks can reduce energy costs by 15 to 30% according to Consumer Reports.
10. Switch out incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient models such as LED or CFL light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs have been phased out, but you may still find them on the store shelves or in your cabinet at home. Take a look at the following chart which was compiled by Scott Cooney an Adjunct Professor in the MBA program at the University of Hawaii, based on Hawaii’s rates of 34.5c per kWh. It breaks down the real costs associated with these three most common types of light bulbs over a seven year period. So what do all these numbers really mean to you? In the long run, LEDs are the most efficient!
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